Pianist & Composer Steven Feifke

Steven Feifke, New York based pianist & composer, has been called “one of the brightest new talents to appear on the modern jazz horizon in some time” (Brian Lynch). Originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, Feifke’s musical upbringing began early on at age four when he started playing piano. Immediately drawn to the instrument, he slowly but surely progressed from the occasional five-minute piano lesson with his mother to studying with Boston based piano teacher Susan Capestro. In high school, Feifke became the pianist for the local “Beantown Jazz Orchestra.” As a part of this group, he gained his first professional performing experience, playing all around New England and the Greater Boston area. With this band and others, Feifke played at venues such as New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Symphony Hall Boston, and the Regattabar in Cambridge. At school, under the musical direction of Jeffrey Leonard, Feifke played keyboard for the famed musical “Les Miserables,” as well as Steven Sondheim’s “Assassins.” Through Lexington High School’s renowned music program, Feifke had the opportunity to take part in festivals including the Berklee High School Jazz Festival and various IAJE festivals, where he was individually recognized with awards from each, such as Berklee’s Superior Musicianship award. Apart from these festivals, Steven has also performed live as a part of the 2009 MENC All-Eastern Jazz Orchestra and the 2008 and 2009 MMEA All-State Jazz Ensembles.

While at high school, Feifke also attended New England Conservatory’s Preparatory program, where he studied piano with David Zoffer. Feifke’s three years in this program were instrumental to his musical growth, as he worked on everything from ear training to composition. Steven was awarded top honors upon graduating from the program. In 2009, Feifke arrived in New York as a pre-med and Jazz Performance student at NYU, and in his first week in the city, played a show at Rockefeller Center with tenor saxophonist and musical director of SNL Lenny Pickett. In his first semester there, Feifke started playing around town with not only his peers, but also his mentors. Notable performances include shows at esteemed venues such as the world famous Blue Note with Dafnis Prieto, Ralph Lalama, and Brian Lynch, and Jazz at Lincoln Center with Chris Potter. Feifke currently studies with luminary piano virtuoso Jean-Michel Pilc, and has also been able to work closely with Don Friedman, Gil Goldstein, Mike Richmond, and Rich Shemaria. During the summer of 2010, Steven went on his first overseas tour to Latvia as a part of GRAMMY award winning trumpeter Brian Lynch’s band for a week of master classes and concert hall performances. Just five months later, in January of 2011, Feifke traveled to Florence, Italy for a four and a half month long study abroad program. While there, he not only was able to continue his studies with pianist Greg Burk, but was also able to massively extend his performance experience. Steven became an integral part of the Florence music scene, playing anywhere from two to five nights a week, at venues such as Camerino’s Teatro Filippo Marchetti, Ferrara Jazz Club, as well as right outside the famous Uffizi Museum as a part of Florence’s “Notte Bianca,” one of the biggest annual music festivals in Italy. Because of this exposure, Feifke was selected as one of fourteen international semi-finalist to the “Massimo Urbani” jazz soloist contest in Camerino. Feifke is currently a junior at NYU, where he is double majoring in Economics and Jazz Performance.